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Determination of the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons

Journal Article · · Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.6028/jres.110.050· OSTI ID:1628759
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [8];  [8];  [9]
  1. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States); DOE/OSTI
  2. Harvard Univ., Cambridge, MA (United States)
  3. National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Boulder, CO (United States)
  4. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States); Hahn-Meitner Inst. (HMI), Berlin (Germany)
  5. Hahn-Meitner Inst. (HMI), Berlin (Germany)
  6. Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States)
  7. Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
  8. National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
  9. North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States); National Inst. of Standards and Technology (NIST), Gaithersburg, MD (United States)
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We report progress on an experiment to measure the neutron lifetime using magnetically trapped neutrons. Neutrons are loaded into a 1.1 T deep superconducting Ioffe-type trap by scattering 0.89 nm neutrons in isotopically pure superfluid 4 He. Neutron decays are detected in real time using the scintillation light produced in the helium by the beta-decay electrons. The measured trap lifetime at a helium temperature of 300 mK and with no ameliorative magnetic ramping is substantially shorter than the free neutron lifetime. This is attributed to the presence of neutrons with energies higher than the magnetic potential of the trap. Magnetic field ramping is implemented to eliminate these neutrons, resulting in an $$833_{-63}^{+74}$$ s trap lifetime, consistent with the currently accepted value of the free neutron lifetime.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-06NA25396
OSTI ID:
1628759
Journal Information:
Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Journal Name: Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 110; ISSN 1044-677X
Publisher:
National Institute of Standards (NIST)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (2)

On Measuring the Neutron Beta-Decay Lifetime using Ultracold Neutrons Produced and Stored in a Superfluid- 4 He-Filled Magnetic Trap journal May 1994
Magnetic Trapping of Neutrons text January 2000

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Related Subjects

ultracold neutrons
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION
72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS
Instruments & Instrumentation
Physics
magnetic trapping
neutron lifetime
superthermal neutron production